Beautiful backyard with lots of interesting spots for dogs to sniff. There are foxtails! The next door yard has chickens, geese and turkeys too. Very hilly with lots of stairs (for older dogs). The hosts leave a jug of fresh water and a parking spot to make it really easy. Will definitely return!
This spot exudes love from mother earth. The land and space is a delightful expression of mother nature and as certainly a reflection of the energy and light emanating from the area.
Grizzly had a fun time exploring this cute and peaceful garden. This sniffspot was just the right place for playing and training. We didn't mind the turkey gobbling or dog barking next door (for a short time), it was a good amount of distractions for him. Good shade and cute little picnic areas made our visit much more enjoyable. Grizzly loved drinking out of the big water basins, very convenient especially on a hot day. Glad we chose this sniffspot and we will definitely come back :)
My dog had a blast! The place was pretty easy to find, though I did need help opening the gate. There is a hook on the inside on the top you have to pull up on to open it. The owner is very sweet, too. There's plenty of water and loads of room to run and sniff. We'll definitely be back!
This was our first sniffspot and what a great experience for our reactive dogs! Directions were clear and all was as described. We will definitely be coming back!
We love visiting this peaceful spot!
Very large and pretty yard. It has a steep stairway to the bulk of the space. Plenty of seating options. I think this is a great space for dogs who like to sniff and explore. Super happy to have this space available.
Great!
Lovely garden oasis! Great place to relax and pups can explore! The host was so warm and welcoming! We will be back!
I came here with my German Shepherd for our first sniff spot visit and we enjoyed every second! If you have a large dog, this yard is perfect for them to burn all that energy! Plenty of room to run around, chase your pup, play fetch and relax. There were plenty of seating areas if you as the owner also need some time to chill!
This is our second time at this sniffspot, and our pup had the best time!
Come here every week now! What I love most about this spot is the amount of shade. No matter how hot it protects my dog and I from the sun. Plus plenty of water stations.
Always a lovely retreat!
I discovered sniffspot yesterday and booked this beautiful spot today. It was even better than I had imagined. My pup was amazed and delighted, if not slightly bewildered, by this opportunity to roam, sniff, adventure and loosen up her need to guard. The hosts were so kind and flexible. I felt comfortable and got the taste of a little peaceful oasis myself. Thank you! (Oh, and, pull up on the small metal bar to open the gate. đ)
Such a beautiful and fun sniffspot! Thank you Lilly!
My pup loved it here. He ran about sniffing, sprinting, and had a wonderful time.
As other reviews have noted, there is a portion of the fencing that is about the height of my dog (heâs 85 pounds). Heâs not super athletic, so he wouldnât jump it, but others might want to be aware.
Friendly host. Multi-level space with lots to sniff.
Itâs a lovely, quiet garden. Ou pup enjoyed wandering along the path stopping to sniff every leaf!
The Sniffspot was spacious and lovely, but 2 out of 3 of the adjacent neighbors had dogs so we put our pup back on leash. (The dogs on the left/chain side werenât let out but we could hear barking.) Since our dog is medium-large and able to jump, we are part of the few percent of guests where the fencing wasnât sufficient for us to feel secure. After lots of sniffing and following him around, we were sad to leave early!
The hosts had clear directions and communicated via chat when I arrived with questions. :) a small dog or calmer dog would probably do great here. This location just didnât work out for our objective - to let our reactive dog off leash to decompress.
This Sniffspot was a surprisingly large garden space in the middle of Oakland! The front gate was a little tricky to open but we managed to figure it out. Our dog had a blast here, and the fences were all high enough and secure. Please noteâ the next door neighbors have two dogs, one of which is also reactive, but they were very nice (our dogs were barking at each other through the fence) and brought their dogs back inside until we left at the end of the hour. Overall a pretty nice space for the location! Thank you to our hosts!
Beautiful spot with plenty of space for your dog the sniff around. Part of spot is also shaded and seating is available which was great! We will be back
Great!
Fantastic spot! Not sure if there was a trash can to dispose of doggy waste, but our dogs loved this spot!
Great spot, so much room for activities and perfect amount of shade
Nice place! Lots for the doggos to sniff and observe. There were many flowers and fruits like strawberries and tomatoes. Iâd caution any pet parent to be aware of the tomato plants as they can be toxic to dogs. There were also some foxtails (tis the season) in the yard, so had to check the dogs throughly after and lots of âleave itâsâ around that area so they donât ingest it.
Hosts were great! They said they have a dog but their dog wasnât visible at all during the hour. Their neighbors have a couple dogs which could be seen on the neighbors balcony (just in case you have reactive dogs). The chain-link fencing in some areas was lower but enough to keep my pups in (they donât jump that much).
The spot is in a hilly area (and the actual sniff spot is also on a slope) and a bit difficult to maneuver but there was an open parking spot in front, just like they said there would be.
The pups had a good time.
Wonderful garden to explore. Several water bowls set out for the pups. Plenty of seating for the humans. Yard is hilly with several steps. Lots of wonderful landscaping surprises.
I think a small sign that you are in the right place would be helpful. We didnât end up staying because we were not sure we were in the right place. Thanks anyway.
Lovely large garden for my dog to explore!
Super cute, lots of space, and easy parking. Would definitely visit again!
Nice yard for some doggie playtime. I'm bringing rescue dogs here for some fresh air and off leash play time. Chain link fence on one side of yard may not be suitable for all dogs (ie dog I had there today could easily jump that fence with little effort) however for most dogs it should be fine especially those that are not jumpers or escape artists. Lady who lives there was very nice and made sure I knew where the water was etc. Will return! :)
This garden is a paradise for humans and dogs! I went with my two big pups and they had an amazing time sniffing and running around. Fence is very secure and no other dogs in sight from the property. Thereâs some giant logs my dogs loved climbing on and cool grass patches for rolling around in. There was plenty of shade on a hot day for the dogs to stay cool, and the hosts had left fresh water strategically all over the garden for the dogs. They also provided toys and treats! I arrived an hour late to my booking but the hosts generously let me stay for a whole session as there wasnât someone booked after me. We canât wait to come back!
Beautiful property with plenty of fresh water and shady spots. My pups had a great time sniffing around. No hot chocolate that we pre-purchased but that was totally okay since it was pretty hot out. Looking forward to our next visit.
My pup and his friends really enjoyed this sniff spot. He was happily distracted with all the greenery and we had a good ole time. Water was provided as well and it was much appreciated because Max is a thirsty pup.
Gorgeous space but we couldnât find the water basin and it was quite hot when we were there. We decided to head out early since my dog was getting thirsty and the owner was in the front yard with her dog. We use sniff spot because my dog is very leash reactive and itâs one way we can exercise without encountering his triggers, but he ended up having a huge reaction as we tried to leave because he is scared of dogs and strangers. I was under the impression that sniffspot owners will keep their own dogs out of the way when they are renting their yards so Iâd only recommend this spot for dogs without any reactivity issues who are dog/people social.
We had a little snafu entering the Sniffspot (someone was in the yard) and werenât able to get a hold of John and Lilly initially. But that was all resolved relatively quickly, and John and Lilly were very nice and apologetic about it. More importantly, their yard was large and beautiful and our dog had a great time.
This Sniffspot was lovely! The yard was spacious and lush and the perfect place for our pup to explore and relax, and the hosts were so kind!
Absolutely magical garden and a fun time for my dogs. Canât wait to go back and visit again
Thanks for having us! You have a beautiful yard!
Awesome place for dogs to play! Well fenced, lots of shade, and plenty of room to explore or play fetch.
My doggie, Birdie, loves to visit here.
Wonderful spot! Our pups enjoyed the space so much. They got all their running and sniffing out. The day was sunny and hot so the shady areas were great for everyone. Plenty of water and some toys were left out. Definitely coming back again. Thank you so much
This host was so kind, friendly, and respectful of my dogâs needs. The yard is huge and magical- tons of plants and beautiful trees. My dog loved sniffing around this large property and just having a chance to explore and be a dog. We both left feeling happy and calm.
Peaceful, shady garden. Our pup had fun sniffing and exploring. It was our first time using sniffspot and everything went smoothly. Thank you!
Wonderful place to let my dogs get their wiggles out while my boyfriend and I got to relax in the beautiful garden. Very sweet greetings from the hostess and will definitely be a regular!
Such a beautiful backyard! Lily welcomed me when I arrived and was super helpful showing me where everything is. My very curious, energetic dog had the best time exploring. We will be back!
Beautiful natural flowing landscaping doggies so loved it! Nice spots for humans to sit enjoy the sanctuary of this space. Shady and inviting
Just perfect. My shy (of humans) pup was able to romp and explore and let out her energy while I sat and visited w a friend in a beautiful garden. So lovely to not worry about triggers suddenly appearing. Just makes for a super relaxing outting option for us âşď¸
Very pretty yard, but it was tricky to keep an eye on my dog there since there are so many plants and itâs quite hilly. The fence is lower on one side (maybe 3-4 feet) which worried me a little with my dog who can jump quite high. We came after it had rained a couple of days and it was very, very muddy and slippery. Wasnât the best for what we were looking for, but it is a very beautiful and large yard.
Though this location is cute, most of the property is covered in foxtails which can cause numerous health issues for visiting dogs. Unfortunately, due to this, we will not be returning.
Beautiful backyard, great for sniffies and exploring. We had fun climbing the big log! Nice and shady with water provided. I would not recommend for folks with reactive dogs, as we did have an encounter with a barky neighbor dog at the back fence, which is wire and doesnât provide any visual barrier. He didnât stay long but it made it hard to relax.
Wonderful huge oasis of a yard. Feels like a private little park. Did a play date w my pup and her best pup buddy after we moved/lost our backyard. This was such a gift for us âşď¸
This is a great space for sniffng-style enrichment. It's not as good for running/rowdiness/zoomies. I worried A LOT about my dog disturbing the garden so I couldn't relax. I felt I had to chaperone my dog throughout. That said, she so enjoyed how much there was to explore and sniff in this beautiful(!) garden that I hope to come back again for days when she needs that kind of activity. There were visible neighbor dogs barking so if your dog is scared or reactive then this may be a difficult sniff spot for them. I was nervous about my dog but she surprisingly handled it ok -maybe because there was so much to sniff.
Beautiful yard, loved that the host left out multiple water bowls, treats, and toys for the pups! We brought along three dogs, so I felt like I couldnât relax at all - making sure they were keeping out of the low planter beds and watching when/if they pooped. There was also a dog barking next door, and one of ours is dog-reactive. We only stayed about a half hour, but they got lots of sniffing in and traipsing through âthe jungle.â đ
Itâs a nice place, my dogs had a lot fun running around here!
My dogs had a great time running around and there was a lot of area for them to sniff and explore. The stairs / bit of a hill that the yard was on were very helpful in getting more of their energy out. I was slightly nervous in the beginning about just walking into someone's yard. I think a small sign or something on the gate we entered in would be very helpful.
My pup is a reactive shy one. Today was first visit. Let her explore take it all in. She loved loved the space. Lilly was so accommodating and warm. Will be back!
Super lovely spot with lots of room for pups to play and run!
The yard had plenty for our three pups to sniff and explore. The neighbors have dogs and some other wildlife so if your dog is reactive to those triggers, I wouldnât recommend this spot. Also, there are quite a few stairs so it is not very accessible if you have mobility issues.
Great spot! Plenty of room and variety for the pup. He had a great time!
Dogs loved this terraced yard with lots of things to investigate, lots of little paths. In one area there is a 3' fence, my dogs ignored it and were happy to stay in the yard. The little fence goes to the yard next door and maybe that yard is secured so it is really no problem but not sure. Lily is super friendly.
Beautiful yard! So much to explore for human and pups alike. Lovely oasis close to town and very gracious hosts.
Amazing spot! Lots to explore. Tons of awesome plants
This beautiful, moderately sloped backyard was perfect for my purposes: to give my dog time in a novel, dog-free environment where he could explore. I enjoyed it almost as much as he did. In January it looks almost tropical. We could hear chickens and turkeys (?) next door. There was a beautiful flock of acorn woodpeckers in a nearby tree. Keep in mind there is not a lot of room for fetch here. Dogs that use Sniffspot for exercise may be happier elsewhere. However, I found it relaxing and welcoming (the host leaves toys and treats for guests to use.) My dog loved exploring the yard.
Super fun! My dog loved exploring the garden with all the smells and different plants.
John and Lilly are always great at communicating and the yard is beautiful. Of course some mud is to be expected with all the rain!
Lily is so heartwarming & kind! This is my first sniff spot, I was so nervous and after speaking with her she made me feel so welcome & explained where everything is. Property is huge garden and hilly, great exercise & room for the pup to run up and down, lots of plants to sniff and explore! We will be back! Thank you!
The garden was such a fun place to explore! Lots of grass, shade, and areas to sniff and run around. The fence is a bit short on one side so if you have a big dog who is a jumper I would be careful. Great for our dogs though. Lilly was so nice and pointed out where the treats, toys, and water were from a safe distance. Thank you so much!
We had a great time! I visited with my pitty who had a blast sniffing and rolling around in all her glory! We saw the dog next door who was pretty chill - the visit was perfect! Grateful to the hosts!! ââď¸
I have 3 small canine escape artists. Knowing the owner also has a small dog made me more comfortable with the fencing. And my 3 didnât find any gaps or holes!
The area was lovely, itâs really a 3 dimensional space and my dogs raced up and down the hill. Tons of clover ground covering that they tromped through.
Owner was very nice and friendly. She directed me to fresh water for the dogs she had already set out.
Absolutely going to bring my guys back here.
My dog had a blast running up and down the gorgeous, spacious yard, chasing the balls John and Lilly provide. We play hide and seek and there were plenty of places for me to hide. Lilly is such a kind and gracious host, and I really enjoyed talking with her. There are chairs in every corner of the yard, for the humans to rest while the pups play. When we were visiting, there was a wet area in the middle with slick mud so watch your step there, and maybe watch your dog too -- mine decided to cool off by laying down and rolling in the muck. Joke's on her though, because I took her straight to the pet wash after her fun Sniffspot romp :P
Huge garden, my dobie loved it
Huge yard, all the amenities like balls, treats, water. Super nice owner who was watering as I arrived. The yard was dry so my scruffy haired terrier got burrs in his fur so I sadly couldnât stay the whole time. But would come back after the dry season!
First of all, I left with total and complete garden envy. The trees, flowers and other plants were heavenly. I love growing my own food and take inspiration from their garden. But, back to the pups.
My boys loved romping under the trees and up and down the hill. You could hear dogs barking in the distance and we arrived to yappy little dogs on a balcony nextdoor. Eventually, the neighbors brought them in and they were far enough away that our dogs paid them no mind. Lots of balls, shade and things to sniff kept them busy. My reactive boy didn't care because he was having so much fun! Phew!! Everything was secure here but the many steps may be a challenge if you prefer flatter surfaces. We brought our dinner and enjoyed a cool summer evening on sturdy chairs and a cafe table. Definitely will return and highly recommend this spot!
Very nice yard with lots of space to explore. Note that while the fence is 6+' solid wood in most places, there is a section of 3' chain link.
Great hosts and nice space for dogs to run around and plenty of shady areas too.
Amazing, we'll be back frequently
Lovely place! Big enough for a good game of fetch, fun stuff to sniff and shady enough so itâs not too hot! Will be back!
John and Lilly's home is beautiful, their large garden has a lot of interesting sniff spots for our pups, they had so much fun smelling and racing! They also have a few spots to sit down and chill under the huge trees shade. Very quite place, we could barely hear any noice from the city. Our dogs are dog reactive, we didn't have any problems, no other animals or humans around.
great space! there were lots of places for my dog to explore. it was easy to play around the ownerâs garden areas.
Such a beautiful spot for doggies to play and sniff. Mimi and I are repeat customers!
Thank you John and Lilly!
Sweet little spot in Oakland! Easy access into the beautiful yard. My dobie and a friends dobie had a good time running free and sniffing around.
What a beautiful oasis! So many places to sniff, different terrains to walk on, logs to do up ups, birds to watch, lots of room to throw a frisbee, wonderful shade spots and nice sunny spots! Just a pure delight to be at. My dog wore herself out in an hour!
Fencing was solid on the upper area. Lower area had solid fencing on 1 side and chain link on the other 2. We did not hear any dogs or people.
Lovely magical place! Thank you for sharing your yard with dogs who need a safe place to explore!
great spot! very clean, clear walkways, and private. also a huuuge space given that its oakland, and lots of shade and some places to sit which is perfect for summer. at the very end of our visit as we were leaving, the ownerâs dog was on their balcony and was visible and barking momentarily. otherwise no dogs seen or heard during the 2-hour visit and it was not disruptive at all. also chickens could be heard next door but not visible and it was generally a quiet spot.
Cute spot, kinda steep but lots of seatings and beautiful trees. Stubb had a great time.
Beautiful private spot! The host was very communicative and has a lovely garden to relax in. Our pup enjoyed exploring the area.